Kirkland a major doubt for cup clash

The luckless keeper was taken off at half-time during Wednesday night's five-goal hammering at Manchester United. Although Roberto Martinez was quick to play down any suggestions Kirkland's injury curse had struck again, he confirmed the former Liverpool stopper had been feeling ill before the game and could not continue with his side already three goals adrift.

"Chris has been under the weather for a few days," revealed Martinez. "He didn't want to miss the game but at half-time he said it was too much."

He added: "Funnily enough, the cold weather didn't help him much.

"It is not a major problem though and in two or three days he will be back to normal."

However, with the Hull game looming so quickly, it seems unlikely Kirkland will be pushed straight back into the fray and Mike Pollitt is standing by to replace the one-time England international, whose hopes of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad have been wrecked by a succession of injuries.